Passports..

[callahanjulie10]

Anyone getting these before the change takes effect? I was just wondering how this would affect the timeline it usually takes to get a passport. Man- I bet those folks aren't looking forward to this new law. Their workload is going to INCREASE!
What do you think would be the easiest, most convenient way to get DH a passport? He works out of town and when he comes home, it is Friday afternoon. He works long hours...

 

[mjejj]

We (me and three kids ) applied for our passports last week and we were told that we would have them by the first week in September. I bet as the deadline get closer, it will take longer.

If your DH has already had a passport, he can renew by mail. If not, maybe he could bring all of his proper documentation with him out of town and stop by a post office when gets a chance. They can take the pictures there(although it is a little pricey, I thought). I don't think that you have to apply for your passport at your local post office. Maybe he could do it at lunch. It didn't take very long for the four of us to get ours, maybe 30 minutes tops. I hope this is a helpful suggestion.

 

[tvguy]

Both the Passport office and the Cruise Industry have said they don't expect a huge increase in business because the vast majority of cruisers already travel with passports. As I recall the cruise industry saying something like 85 percent of their passengers have current passports on cruises routes that don't require them, and of course 100% have passports on routes that require them.

 

[dzneprincess]

ok ok this is serving as a reminder for me to go ahead and get the kids done. Can someone please tell me what I need to take in there? The kids, and their BC's at a local post office? Is that all?

 

[Rence]

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

Above link has all the info on passports - you can download the forms and get the all filled out. You can also check to see which post offices accept passport applications and during what hours they accept them. Not all post offices process passports and those that do may have limited hours during which they accept them. But all the info is there.

For the original poster - I would download the forms, get them filled out and have DH apply at a post office near where he works out of town. He has to go in person, but for his own passport, he can do it alone. You could have the paperwork all done, the picture taken etc. pacakge everything up so it would be a quick and painless process.

 

[mjejj]

Both parents also have to be present, unless you have a signed NOTARIZED form that you can download from the state dept. website. My step childrens Mom couldn't be present so we had her sign the form, but it didn't say on the form to notarize it. When we got to the post office, we had to go back and have the form notatrized before we could apply.

You also need two pictures and the original, certified birth certificate. Oh, and the state department will not take credit cards, only checks or money orders.

 

[ImMarcik]

We applied for our passports about a month ago and they came in the mail yesterday!!!! Anyone wanna do the passport dance with me? One step closer to cruising.

 

[Cajun Princess]

ok ok this is serving as a reminder for me to go ahead and get the kids done. Can someone please tell me what I need to take in there? The kids, and their BC's at a local post office? Is that all?

We applied for ours yesterday. Went to the local clerk of courts office. For adults you need your DL and birth cert. and passport picture, kids only needed their birth cert. and passport picture. We had our pictures taken at Walgreens. Both parents have to be there to sign for the children. I went and did all the paperwork and DH came at lunch to sign the forms and show his DL. They do keep your birth cert and said it will be mailed back with the passports. That was a surpise because I did't think they would keep them only look at them. They take ckecks or money orders only no credit cards so go prepared. Anyway I should have our passports by Oct. They said it was taking about 8 weeks to get them in. I'm glad we finally went and got it done. One less thing to worry about. Happy Cruising.

 

[callahanjulie10]

Thanks- I went ahead and downloaded the app and we will pick up a couple of pictures. We will head to the Post Office one afternoon maybe next week

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

DH and I applied about 2 weeks ago. It was a very painless process. Can't wait to get em and check one more item off my cruising list!!!!!

 

[Cruella de mom]

Don't let anyone but the passport office cut the photos. I had to have two of my kids photo's retaken because the girl at Kinko's cut them a fraction too small. The rest of us were fine, but they are very picky so I would just let the passport office cut them then if they mess up they can't charge you $15 a piece to redo them.

 

[TootyJane]

Thanks- I went ahead and downloaded the app and we will pick up a couple of pictures. We will head to the Post Office one afternoon maybe next week

You might want to check Where to Apply for a Passport Nationwide. We found a little community center (about the same distance away) as our post office that accepted passport applications. No appointment was necessary and we just walked in. The nicest thing about it was there were no lines! Our post office is notorious for its long lines. I had downloaded the applications and the five of us were out of there in about 30 minutes. I knew that we should expect to receive our passports in 6-8 weeks. However, we were surprised when we got them three weeks later. When I was out doing errands I dropped by the community center and asked how come we received them so fast. The woman said most likely someone had been in applying for a passport and needed expedited service the same day we were there and when that happens anyone else who comes in that day gets their application(s) put in the FexEx envelope. HTH

 

[Landy]

We applied for our passports on 6/20. Took four weeks for my wife and I to get ours. It took five weeks for us to get our two daughters'.